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Matheny ejected following final out

Matheny ejected following final out

7/11/13: Cardinals manager Mike Matheny is ejected from the game after disputing the umpire's call on Alfonso Soriano's catch in left

By Jenifer Langosch and Brian Hedger
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MLB.com |

CHICAGO -- Cardinals manager Mike Matheny was ejected immediately following his team' 3-0 loss to the Cubs on Thursday night at Wrigley Field.

It initially appeared that Matheny was arguing about the game's final out, which was caught by Cubs left fielder Alfonso Soriano just inches above the grass to give closer Kevin Gregg his 16th save of the season. Instead, Matheny said he was incensed about the actions of home-plate umpire Dan Bellino after a called third strike against Cardinals first baseman Matt Adams to start the ninth.

Adams might have said something about the call as he walked back to the dugout and Bellino removed his mask while motioning Adams away, drawing the ire of Adams and Matheny. Adams declined to comment, but Matheny explained his displeasure with the situation.

"It had more to do with the umpire and how he mistreated one of our players, with Adams," Matheny said. "It had nothing to do with the call. It had everything to do with going too far. It's ridiculous. I mean, you can't take your mask off and motion somebody away. We hadn't had any trouble, we hadn't been complaining all game long and … [Bellino] wanted to be seen, so now he's going to be seen."

Bellino was not reached for comment afterward. He immediately ejected Matheny, who confronted him as he was leaving the field in front of the Cardinals' dugout. Matheny, who was then held back by crew chief Wally Bell, got close to Bellino in the altercation, saying afterward that he wasn't sure if he bumped into Bellino or not.

"He was walking away," Matheny said of Adams. "He said what he needed to say and I'm sure the umpire didn't like it … but he was walking away. He didn't do anything out of the ordinary. I don't have any idea about the pitch -- couldn't tell how from where we were. That wasn't the problem."